Road or roadway.



UNITED STA ES PATENT 'oFFIo A CORPORATION 01" NEW JERSEY. f

N0 Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT FULTON TOMPKINS, a citizen of theUnited'States,

residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have in-,

vented certain new and useful Improvements in Roads or Roadways, ofwhich the following'is aspecification. r -,j V This invention relates toroads or roadays and process by which the same is constructed, and hasfor an object the production of a road or roadway of such a characterthat its ready disintegration by tires or vehicles or other attrltlo'nor vibratory means is largely avoided or prevented, and whereby dustwhich accompanies the circulation of air induced by moving vehicles,such as occur in dry roads of ordinary construction, is avoided, andcomprises a road or roadway containing, forming an integral partthereof, or in co-acting communication or relation thereto, a substanceof binding or cementing nature containing glucosids and preferably suchglucosids as tannin, either per 86 or associated with other tannine, orthe same with water directly or indirectly. By employment of thiscomposielastic character and of automatic moistening form. f o 7 As an exampleof a road constructed in accordance with the present invention, a roador roadway of the macadam or similar type associated with ingredients orconstituents in accordance with the present invention, will be taken asan illustration.

The macadam type of road or roadway forms a vehicle carrier ormatrix forthe glucosid binder and is'provided'with a top dressing of similarbinder associated withthe usual finer grades of mineral filler.

The ingredients of the top dressing are caused to cohere and adhere bymeans of i the hygroscopic binder containing a gluco- ROAD on noADwaY.

sid, a: glucosid and a tannin or a glucosid, a tannin and a solublesilicate, such" as sodinmrsilicate, either per 86' or associated withwatcrjthereby forming a superior cementing agent 'of ncnwolatile naturehaving suflicient natural hygroscopicor jmoistening properties topreventdrying out without being su'liicie'ntly hygroscopic to producedeliquescence,thereby acting as an aggr-egant oragglutinant to cause thesolid -'part1cles of' the roadway or roadbed to co; here or'gadhere in aflexible resilient and um in'tanning operations and known as spent tanliquors which are now universally thrown away, which tan liquors may beconcentrated as a preventive of their decomposition and to facilitateshipment and afterward diluted with water, in proportion of one of theconcentrated liquor of a density approximating 48 degrees Twaddell tothree of water by volume. 'This road con structicn material is mixedwith the glucosid and tannin containing liquor thus produced to whichhas been preferably added five per cent. of sodium silicate sufficientlydiluted with water and then the whole mixedavith suitable cementitiousor other uniting or'binding substances, such for instance as a' cement,forming concrete, and the composition spread, rolled, tamped, orotherwise placed in-proper position or loca: tion whereby it will becomeset or fixed in composite form as a road body.

ROBERT FULTON 'roivirxms, or new YORK, N. Y.,"AssIGN0n 'ro Jinn BINDERCOMPANY,

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb 13 1917. Application filedAugust 11, 191a. Seria1N0.:784,122.'

When the road bed has been properly provided as aforesaid, it is spreadwith a' tannin such as the 'rena tured tan liquorcon tainlngsolublesilicate such as sodium siliforming a compact dressing of more or lesscate or such tan liquor per 86. This dress- 7 ing is then rolled in andupon the roadway V water repellent nature, but of sufficientlyhygroscopic character as to retain and absorb moisture and preventdrying out and dusting of the composition.

Instead. of a cement concrete base, containing the binder as aforesaid,having a direct top dressing of the character cescribed, the materialsof the roadbed may be primarily dressed with an asphalt composition uponwhich a top dressing or finish is placed in communication with theasphalt layer, comprising sutiiciently granulated or comminutedti'frictional substances such as sand, associated with the glucosid, andtannin compositions in such a manner that the frictional substances areanchored to. ccmented by, or united with the surface of the asphaltcoating.

Some of the advantages of aroad of this character over roads constructedhitherto resides in the fact that the comminuted particles of the roadproduced by wear and tear during use by the tires of vehicles and thelike are held together by the hygroscopic organic binder and preventedlargely from dusting by circulation in currents of air actuated by themovement of vehicles, the moisture retained or occluded by thehygroscopic binder being displaced under pressure of the vehicle weightupon it captures and secures any associated fine material in juxtasposition thereto and agglutinately holds the same to the contactingmaterial containing the binder while under pressure and thereafter whenthe elastic coherer of hygroscopic nature resumes its original volume byexpansion.

The action of heat on a roadbed or road of the character of the presentinvention does not have the effect of destroying the cohering andadhering effect of the particles by action of the nonvolat1lehygroscopic binder, as is the case where oils are employed which are ofmore or less dry, fugitive volatilizable chara cter Where oil alone isused to cause the coherence or adherence of particles in a road or roaddressing. it is not only lost by evaporation and drying out, but itlikewise reduces the gravity of the fine contacting particles of theroad dressing so that water, from rain or other source, causes it tofloat and be carried off; oil also produces an injurious anddisintegrating effect upon vehicle tires and greases and destroys theappearance of varnish and other finish upon the vehicles, exerts adeleterious action on metal, wood and leather, as well as creating agreasy dusty atmosphere injurious to the eyes and clothes and which alsosettles in houses, upon furniture and other contents in the vicinity andcontaminates water upon which it falls and also forms a stickycontamination on clothes which is hard to remove, all of whichdisadvantages are obviated by the employment of glucosids, glucosids andtannin, or glucosids, tannin and a soluble silicate, such as sodiumsilicate, or such compositions as appear or are produced in or fromspent tan liquors. The employment of spent tan liquors or glucosidcompositions as aforenoted, forms a binder or an agglutinizing agent ofhygroscopic nondeliquescent nature which forms with the mineral roaddressing a substance of greater gravity or increasing gravity withrelation to water So that it is not so readily washed away, and at thesame time maintains the road dressing in a naturally and progres sivelymoist condition by taking up the same from moist atmosphereautomatically to com pensate for the moisture dislodged or dissi patedby evaporation through the action of heat.

Asphalt roads or roadways dressed with frictionable substances such. assand, bonded or united with organic hygroscopic and non deliquescingbinders of the tannin and glucosid type. holds down the dressing againstthe flow of water over its impermeable surface and the dressing thusretained or anchored to the asphalt will largely enhance the friction ofthe road surface under pressure or attrition and retard the slipping ofhorses shoes and the skidding of vehicle wheels, which slipping andskidding presents one of the greatest diiiiculties and objections to theemployment of asphalt as a top dressing per se, and it also provides ameans for anchoring sheeted particles of ice, which may form on theroadbed, to the sur face of the asphalt, thereby increasing the utilityof asphalt roads and preventing this other serious objection to theiremployment. This composite coating or dressing of mineral substancestogether with tannin binders forms a gravity blanket comprising coheringand adhering particles when employed in conjunction with the roadbed ofexisting roads, railroads, or other viaducts for vehicles or otherpurposes, whereby the ag glonieratcd or aggregated material iscollectively retained against currents of air and the roadbed protectedagainst water and currents thereof removing the surface. This materialspread upon such roads as asphalt roads not only provides a superiorsurface of frictionable nature, but also protects the asphalt surfaceagainst wear and loss of volatile ingredients, which is often occasionedby the action of the heat of the sun. thus prolonging the life andutility of such asphalt containing road.

The terms aggregate and agglutinate employed in this specification areintended to imply and do imply a substance capable of causin solidparticles to adhere or cohere and the character of the particles soassociated or attached whereby substances of less gravity or less weightare anchored to subof glucosid and tannins in proportion approximatingone andahalf of the former to oneof the latter, in water and it is foundpreferable to concentrate this liquor by evaporation or dehydration to adensity ap proximating 48 degrees Twaddell for commercial utility, bothfor economy andshipment and in handling which 48 degrees Twaddell liquoris diluted with water in the locality of theplace where it is to beemployed.

To this aqueous solution of glucosid or tannin is preferably addeda-soluble silicate such as sodium silicate. in proportion of 5% byweight of the combined glucosid and tannin content as a binder to beemployed as a street or road dressing.

\Vhen thebinder is employed as a road dressing or hinder, the tanninrortannic acid combines with the iron, alumina, lime or v otherconstltuents of the road construction material'combinable with tannicacid if it contains any producing water insoluble compounds whichpresent to the glucoslds and other ingredients of the binder a superiorvadhesive surface so that the glucosids and excess tannin act as anagglutinizing agent for anchoring or securing part1cles of dust or;other material together in a fixed and flexible or elastic manner whilethe inherent hygroscopic properties of the glucosids provide a ready andautomatic moistening c0nstituent and effect without deliquescence sothat theparticles adhere together without. becoming attached to foreignmaterials .which may contact them such as vehicle tires, etc. I r V The.glucosids employed may be of any selective character, they beingcompounds which combine the properties of glucose and vegetableextractives, or what may be termed glucose esters, in such a manner thateach has lost its specific physical identity as such and is less solublethan either individually in water as a rule, and is hygroscopic withoutdeliquescence and'does not eflloresce or dry up spontaneously. Thepeculiarly adaptable properties or qualities of these glucosids probablyis attributable to a progressive and alternate hydrolysis into vegetableextractives or organic or carbon containing acids or glucose and itsreformation tannins together with water,

usually found associated with or form a part of road construction. a

The composite composition of these 1ngredients associated with watertherefore produces a peculiarly"advantageous 1nate- I'lfil ofselectiveutillty as a cement or blnder of flexible resilient, andelastic nature in character. j

Any glucosid associated with tannin may be employed and mixed in anyselective or desired proportion without departing from the spiritof theinvention, so long as both are present in some form or the glucosid initself present and exhibits the combined properties hereinbefore setforth.

. The soluble silicate, such as-sodium silicate, may be employed as abinder augment-- ing agent or additive constituent of the composition.to modify the properties thereof with reference to its siliciouscementing character and also for the purpose of resinifying some 'of thetannins and converting theminto more'water repellent substances.

The composition of tannin and glucosids maybe produced by mixingtheindividual ingredients with water or secured from such substances asspent tanliquors, or from other sources, or extractedfrom natural de:

pared.

Some of the tannins and tannic acids are at once so calledtanninsandglucosids, they being converted by. hydrolysis into glucose and gallic,ellagic, protocatechuic and other acids or organic extractives;

The composition comprising 7 such as may be obtained from or as spenttan bark liquors, orfiui'd tan waste products such as are ordinarilythrown away, either as such or products which may be obtained by boilingdown or concentrating the same, or such concentrated product rediluted,is particularly adaptable to road treatment, acting as it does to fixthe dust and cement the road base thus maintaining a form of fixedbinder which is continually working its way into and between theparticles or pieces of the road construction when subjected at intervalsto progressive watering either by artificial sprinkling or from thenatural source of rain, etc, and exhibits the further enhancing qualityof presenting a latent form of, moisture by reason of its hydroscopieproperties thus preventing the disintegration and drying out orcrumbling of the road dressing or base body, and also pro vides a.superior dressing or binding agent for construction materials of roadsor other solid vehicle or transportation bearing body or path. y.

Instead of mixing the glucosid, glucosid and tann1n or glucosid, tanninand soluble silicate such as sodium silicate directly with theconstituents of road construction during glucosids and the roadbuilding, it may be applied to a road or roadway after the same isconstructed by sprinkling a suliiciently fluid solution upon the roadand allowing it to soak in and preferably rolling the same thereafter toform a compact top dressing, in which case when concentrated spent tanliquor having a gravity approximating 48 degrees Twaddellv is mixed withwater in proportion of three of water to one of concentrated liquor, andto which is added a soluble silicate such as sodium silicate inproportion of 5% by weight of the solid constituents of the dilutedliquor, and this mixture sprinkled upon or otherwise applied to the roadsurface, after which a second sprinkling or wetting is appliedcomprising a slightly more dense liquor consisting of one part ofconcentrated liquor to two of water to which is added sodium silicate inthe same perccntage of the solid constituents of the diluted liquor,viz: 5%, the interval of time between the two applications of the liquorbeing sullicient to allow the first coat to be absorbed and combined andfor the process of rolling and setting to be accomplished. The glucosidsubstances in the composition being naturally hygroscopic, are alwaysreaching out or absorbing moisture and maintaining the ingredients in amoist condition.

The term solid as employed herein with reference to the character ofspent tan bark liquor constituents is intended to imply and does implysuch ingredient or constituent contained therein which is substantiallysolid or semi-solid when concentrated or the water dried out byevaporation, absorption or combination with the associated roadconstituents or the water otherwise removed.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is;

l. A road or roadway comprising a base or body and a cohering or bindingcomposition comprising a hygroscopic glucosid.

A road or roadway comprising a base or body and a cohering or bindingcomposition comprising a glucosid and a tannin.

3. A road or roadway comprising a base or body and a cohering or bindingcomposition comprising an aromatic glucosid and a tannin.

4. A road or roadway comprising a base or body and a cohering or bindingcomposition comprising a hygroscopic glucosid, a tannin and a solublesilicate.

5. A road or roadway comprising a base or body and a cohering or bindingcomposition comprising an aromatic glucosid, a tannin and a solublesilicate.

G. A road or roadway comprising a base or body and a cohering or bindingcomposition comprising a hygroscopic glucosid, a tannin and sodiumsilicate.

7. A road or roadway comprising a base or body and a cohering or bindingcomposition comprising an aromatic glucosid, a tannin and sodiumsilicate.

8. A road or roadway comprising a base or body and a cohering or bindingcomposition comprising the constituents of dehydrated spent tan barkliquor.

9 A road or roadway comprising a base or body and a. cohering or bindingcomposition comprising the constituents of dehydrated spent tan barkliquor and a soluble silicate.

10. A road or roadway comprising a base or body and a cohering orbinding composition comprising the constituents of dehydrated spent tanbark liquor and sodium silicate.

1.1. A road or roadway comprising a base or body and a cohering orbinding composition. containing a solid constituent of tan bark liquor.

12. A road or roadway comprising a base or body and a cohering orbinding composition containing a solid constituent of tan bark liquorand a soluble silicate.

13. A road or roadway comprising a base or body and a cohering orbinding composition containing a solid constituent of tan bark liquorand sodium silicate.

14k. A road dressing containing a solid constituent or" tan bark liquor.

15. A road dressing comprising a hygroscopic glucosid and sand.

16. A road dressing comprising a hygroscopic glucosid, soluble silicateand sand.

17. A road dressing comprising a hygroscopic glucosid, a tannin andsand.

18. A road dressing comprising an arcmatic glucosid, a tannin and sand.

19. A road dressing comprising a hygroscopic glucosid, a tannin, asoluble silicate and sand.

20. A road dressing comprising an aromatic glucosid, a tannin, a solublesilicate and sand.

21. A road dressing comprising a hygroscopic glucosid, a tannin, sodiumsilicate and sand.

22. A road dressing comprising an aromatic glucosid, tannin, sodiumsilicate and sand.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT rumor TOMIKINS.. 1. 8.]

Witnesses WM. J. JULIEN, JOHN HENRY HURLBUTT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C.

